Foundations of Science Education

BTNY/CHEM/GEO/MICR/PHYS/ZOOL 3570
Adam Johnston

Calendar:

The following is our current plan.  Plans change, of course, but this will be in effect unless you’re told otherwise.  Updates will be made here as necessary:

 

Tuesday

Thursday

August 25

Introductions.  


Discuss: What is “science” and what is “learning”?


 

27 


Lab: Blowing of bubbles and stirrings of hot chocolate

Assign: Scudder, Collins, Lee et al.; response paper

Sept. 1

 

Lab: Fluid mass and volume.

3

Debrief fluids lab

Lab: Copters data collection and data analysis

8

Lab [continued]: Copters data collection and data analysis

Assign: Popper, Kuhn, Lightman; response paper

10

Introduce science research projects (Cross Section).  Form research groups and standards.

Discuss: “Scientific method” and the question of umbrellaology.


17

Meeting of the AACD:
Present Copter research

Cross Section proposals returned 


17 


Cross Section proposals DUE

Debrief: Data analysis

Discuss: Demarcation, utility, and knowledge of science

Assign: Settlage & Southerland, McComas; response paper

22

Workday: Research projects

24

Discuss: Fact, Law, Theory, and Myths of science. Define/refine meanings of science, and perspectives from psychology

Assign: Johnston & Southerland; response paper

 

29

Discuss: Data -- observation and inference ;poetry as data

Lab: Measuring a molecule

1

Lab: Pseudoscience


Assign: Park; Smith & Scharmann; Pseudoscience analysis

6

Debrief/Report: Pseudoscience

8

Discuss: Science and religion and the nature of knowing(s)

Assign: Response paper

13

Lab: Teaching philosophy inventory

Assign: Reynolds et al.; response paper

15

Discuss: A brief history of science education and an

Introduction to learning theory

20

Discuss: Private Universe(s)

Assign: Misconception interviews

22

Cross Section drafts DUE

Lab: Misconceiving the Moon and other phenomena -- activity and interviews

27

Discuss: What does it mean to learn?  A brief overview of learning theory(ies) through the ages.

29


Report: Misconception interviews

Assign: Driver et al., Strike & Posner; response paper

Nov. 3

Discuss: Misconceptions, constructivism and conceptual change theory; Theoretical frameworks, ontological categories, and phenomenological primitives!

Assign: Misconception research

5

Discuss: Misconceptions and teaching the Nature of Science

Assign: Windschitl, Settlage, Johnston; response paper

10

Discuss: Other views of learning: Identity, extrarational considerations

12

Discuss: The ideal of inquiry: What, How, and Why?

Assign: Ladson-Billings; response paper

17

Discuss: What are YOUR misconceptions? What makes a good instrument?

19

Lab: The perfect curriculum: Goals, objectives, assessments, and ideals

Assign: Carlone; response paper

24

Discuss: Diverse learners in the science classroom

26

HOLIDAY

Dec. 1

Discuss: Identity and learning

3

Lab: The Utah State Core Curriculum:
 Standards and Objectives and Indicators, oh my!

Final debriefing and loose ends

 

Thursday, Dec.10; 10:30a


Misconception Research Symposium